With having enjoyed seeing actors Jean Simmons, Kenneth More and André Morell appear in number of recent viewings over the last year all so,I was happy to find a title which starred all 3!,which led to me getting ready to find out how yellow the cloud could be.
The plot:
Badly failing his latest mission,British secret service agent Maj. David Somers is told that he must leave the world of espionage behind.Frustrated over no longer having any work,Somers decides to take a job cataloguing butterflies for Nicholas Fenton in his country house.
Arriving at the mansion,Somers is introduced by Nicholas to his wife Jess,and their niece Sophie Malraux,who the Fenton's have been looking after,since the sudden death of her mum.Despite being told about her "issues" Somers finds himself falling in love for Malraux,and sticking up for her when farm hand Hick tries to push Malraux around.Waking up,Somers & Malraux discover to their horror that they will no longer be having any arguments with Hick's,due to him having been found dead,with Malraux knife in his back.Realising that someone is trying to frame Malraux for murder,Somers and Malraux decide to go on the run,in the hope of finding the real killer before the thunder clouds appear on the horizon.
View on the film:
Setting Somers & Malraux on the run,director Ralph Thomas (who after this would work again with producer Betty Box over 30 times!) and cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, (who was also the cinematographer for 2001: A Space Odyssey)give the filmed on location in the north of England outdoor scenes an atmospheric crisp appearance,which cast the title against an icy Film Noir backdrop,as Somers and Malraux find themselves having to go deeper into the countryside,as Somers former spying chums close in on them.Contrasting the chill from the outdoor scenes, Thomas and Unsworth turn the Fenton's country house into a haunted mansion,as stylish close-ups reveal the "ghost" haunting Malraux troubled memory.
Giving the Fenton house a peaceful shell,the screenplay by Janet Green (a Film Noir by a women!) superbly chips away to show the darkness hiding within,as the Fenton's start to appear oddly keen over Malraux not being able to clearly remember about how her mum died.For the bubbling romance between Somers & Malraux,Green does very well at giving the relationship a smooth sweetness,which makes the rather sudden ending something that is easier to accept,as Somers shows Malraux how much she means to him.
Chasing after Somers, André Morell gives a terrific performance as Secret Service Chief Chubb,with Morell showing Chubb to be oddly impressive by his former fellow spy Somers showing that he still knows how to use his former skills,whilst Kenneth More gives the flick a dash of charm as Willy Shepley.Entering the movie looking like a worn- down Film Noir loner, Trevor Howard gives a brilliant performance as Maj. David Somers,with Howard showing Somers relaxed manner to transform into a thrust to clear Malraux name,whilst the elegant Jean Simmons (who like the director,would work with Betty Box again for So Long At The Fair) tremendously shows Malraux fear in tracking down the killer in time,and remembering how her mum died,as the clouds start to part.
The plot:
Badly failing his latest mission,British secret service agent Maj. David Somers is told that he must leave the world of espionage behind.Frustrated over no longer having any work,Somers decides to take a job cataloguing butterflies for Nicholas Fenton in his country house.
Arriving at the mansion,Somers is introduced by Nicholas to his wife Jess,and their niece Sophie Malraux,who the Fenton's have been looking after,since the sudden death of her mum.Despite being told about her "issues" Somers finds himself falling in love for Malraux,and sticking up for her when farm hand Hick tries to push Malraux around.Waking up,Somers & Malraux discover to their horror that they will no longer be having any arguments with Hick's,due to him having been found dead,with Malraux knife in his back.Realising that someone is trying to frame Malraux for murder,Somers and Malraux decide to go on the run,in the hope of finding the real killer before the thunder clouds appear on the horizon.
View on the film:
Setting Somers & Malraux on the run,director Ralph Thomas (who after this would work again with producer Betty Box over 30 times!) and cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, (who was also the cinematographer for 2001: A Space Odyssey)give the filmed on location in the north of England outdoor scenes an atmospheric crisp appearance,which cast the title against an icy Film Noir backdrop,as Somers and Malraux find themselves having to go deeper into the countryside,as Somers former spying chums close in on them.Contrasting the chill from the outdoor scenes, Thomas and Unsworth turn the Fenton's country house into a haunted mansion,as stylish close-ups reveal the "ghost" haunting Malraux troubled memory.
Giving the Fenton house a peaceful shell,the screenplay by Janet Green (a Film Noir by a women!) superbly chips away to show the darkness hiding within,as the Fenton's start to appear oddly keen over Malraux not being able to clearly remember about how her mum died.For the bubbling romance between Somers & Malraux,Green does very well at giving the relationship a smooth sweetness,which makes the rather sudden ending something that is easier to accept,as Somers shows Malraux how much she means to him.
Chasing after Somers, André Morell gives a terrific performance as Secret Service Chief Chubb,with Morell showing Chubb to be oddly impressive by his former fellow spy Somers showing that he still knows how to use his former skills,whilst Kenneth More gives the flick a dash of charm as Willy Shepley.Entering the movie looking like a worn- down Film Noir loner, Trevor Howard gives a brilliant performance as Maj. David Somers,with Howard showing Somers relaxed manner to transform into a thrust to clear Malraux name,whilst the elegant Jean Simmons (who like the director,would work with Betty Box again for So Long At The Fair) tremendously shows Malraux fear in tracking down the killer in time,and remembering how her mum died,as the clouds start to part.